1. Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT)
Environmental Quality Standards
for “River-basin specific pollutants”
in Surface Waters
Update & development analysis of a European-wide Comparison
Ulrich Claussen, Felix Rau, Jens Arle, Volker Mohaupt, Ulrich Irmer
Madrid, 31st March - 1st April 2014

2. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Background I
River basin district specific pollutants (RBSPs, specific synthetic and specific non-synthetic harmful substances) are part of the ecological status classification under the WFD.
The WFD postulates the surveillance of RBSPs when significant discharges of those substances into the surface waters occur.
The determination of the relevant RBSPs is part of the assessment of ecological status.
WFD Annex V as well as a Technical Guidance for Deriving Environmental Quality Standards are the basis for determination of environmental quality standards (EQS) for RBSPs aiming at comparable values in the EU.
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

3. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Background II
In February 2012, ECOSTAT took note of the report “Comparison of Limits of River Basin District Specific Pollutants set for the Demands of the European Water Framework Directive in Streams and Rivers” prepared by DE on the basis of information reported via WISE in 2010.
In the report the results of a comparison of the EQS reported for RBSPs were presented. This 2012 report is also responsive to the report „River Basin-Specific Pollutants – Identification and Monitoring“ by JRC.
The results of the 2012 report and the results of the report „Comparative Study of Pressures and Measures in the Major River Basin Management Plans“ also published in 2012 are mostly congruent with regard to inhomogeneity of determination of RBSPs and their respective EQSs in EU MS.
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

4. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Background III
At ECOSTAT meetings in October 2012 and April 2013, MS decided to ask for an update of the 2012 report and repeat the comparison of RBSP EQS based on improved information.
For this purpose, MS were requested to elaborate on MS specific spread sheets, prepared by DE. 15 out of 25 MS covered in the 2012 report responded.
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

5. Methods Spreadsheet Part I:
Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Methods
Spreadsheet Part I:
Questions on the use of the manuals of WFD Annex V or CIS-Guidance No. 27.
Spreadsheet Part II:
MS were asked to report EQS for their RBSPs.
Responses of MS are summarised in a central spreadsheet.
Substances are identified by name and CAS-No.
New or updated EQS in the central spreadsheet were highlighted to visualise differences to the EQS in the report .
For each substance a maximum and a minimum value of EQS are determined.
2013 results are compared with the results from the 2012 – Report:
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

6. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results I
19 MS replied, but not all of them submitted new information.
After merging all spreadsheets it became apparent that 15 MS reported new substances or defined new EQS.
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

7. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results II
Did you use the methods described in the 2011 CIS Guidance No. 27 “Technical Guidance for Deriving Environmental Quality Standards” (Technical Report ) for derivation of threshold values of specific pollutants?
(or to update existing EQS)
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

8. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results III
Report
Report
The total number of substances regulated by EQS rose from 366 in the first report to 452 substances.
The number of reported substances per MS increased on average from 47 to 55 substances.
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

9. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results IV
Out of 452 substances: only 263 substances were reported by at least 2 MS
-> a comparison of EQS is possible.
Copper and zinc are both reported 22-fold and are the most often monitored substances.
Number of substances
Number of MS
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

10. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Jens Arle
Results V
European-wide comparison of the number of EQS for RBSPs used by MS
mean
„Old Substances“
„New Substances“
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

11. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results VI
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

12. Results VII 2012 – Report 2014 – Report
Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results VII
2012 – Report
2014 – Report
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

13. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Results VIII
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

14. Environmental Quality Standards “River-basin specific pollutants” in Surface Waters - Update and development analysis of a Europe-wide Comparison
Summary & Outlook
Compared to the reported state in 2010, the current list of RBSP only shows slight progress towards harmonisation on European level. The results still show significant variation of standards for many substances.
During the process of revising the structure of the WFD CIS process, it has been agreed to forward the work on RBSP to the Working Group on CHEMICALS.
ECOSTAT in March 2014 recommends to the WG CHEMICALS to focus future work on RBSPs on the following aspects:
clarification of reasons for discrepancies in MS EQS for certain RBSPs aiming at finding a solution to reduce those and
clarification whether to consider RBSPs in the revision of the list of priority substances if a particular substance has been identified by e.g. more than a certain number of MS (inter alia copper and zinc).
Meeting of the WFD CIS Working Group on Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), Madrid, 31 March - 1 April 2014

15. Thank you for your attention!
Ulrich Claussen
Federal Environmental Agency , Germany
/ Hier steht der Veranstaltungstitel in 12 Punkt